Footwear



LSSEAB A. A. GLIDDEN ET AL FOOTWEAR Filed Sept. 2,v 1924 Nif,

2v J. w w@ f, @i Afm v@ www mi u Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

UNITED s'mrss l istria PATENT Fries.

.ALFRED A.. /'LIDDEN AND FRANK D. BEAN, OF WATE'RTOXVN, MASSACHUSETTS, AS- SIGNCRS T0 HOOD RUBBER COMPANY, OF WATER/TOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, A COB- IPOBATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

FOOTWEAR.

Application filed September To all 'whom 'it may concern:

county of Middlesex and State of Massa chusetts, have invented certain new and uscful Improvements in Footwear, of which the following is a specification. y

Our present invention relates to iinprovef ments in footwear of theA type known as arctics embodying a rubber lower or foot portion and a fiexible cloth upper or ankle and leg enclosing portion.

' The invention aims to provide a construction which may be quickly put on and rclnoved, and which will be kept properly closedy and of sightly appearance when on the foot, having no exposed fasteners, and those used being reduced vto a minimum number.

The invention further aims to provide a shoe of this type which may be produced at an extremely iow cost.

With these several objects in View, the invention includes the novel features of constructionandl arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described, the invention being defined by tis claims appended hereto. An embodiment of our invention is illustrated lin the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the im- V proved article in closed condition, as it would appearwhen worn.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the shoe open 'and ready to be drawn on the foot.

Fig. 3 is a partial section on line 3 3 of Fig. l, and

Fig. t is a partial section on iine 4-4 of Fi 1. Y

leferring by reference characters to this drawing, the numeral l designates thc rubber portion of the shoe and 2 the cloth npper, whichmay be of the ordinary or any desired construction. It is obvious that the.

height to which the rubber portion extends is immaterial, being shown herein as extended onigf a short distance above the sole,

' as is desirable in a ladys arctic, which is that selected 4for the present embodiment of the invention The upper has the usual open or divided front provided with a belf lows or accordiony insert 2?, the edges of 2, 1924. serial no, 735,373.

which are secured to the upper, adgiacent the divided edges thereof, whereby a complete water-proof closure is formed over the instep and front of the leg, this; bellows insertion ermitting the upper, when its edgesl are un astened or disconnected, to expand suiiciently to allow it to be easily drawn on and oif.

For securing the edges of the upper together we providei'a plurality of fasteners which .are concealed from view when the upper is closed, and these fasteners preferably take the form of hook and eye inembers 4 and 4, two sets or pairs only being preferably used, and being preferably of wire loop form, as shown, and capable of being readily engaged and disengaged.v

rllhe fasteners are attached back from the edges so that the edges may be turned back to allow the fasteners to be readily manipulated, whereafter the resiliency of the edge material will cause them to assume closed position with their edges in abutting contact. The fasteners are conveniently secured to the upper by loops of double tape, or the like, 5, adhesively secured between the upper 2 and its lining 2, to the edges of Which'lining the edges of the bellows insert are secured.

To prevent the portions of the edges between each pair of fasteners, and between the lower pair and the bottom of the division slit of the upper from opening unfor in other words, to maintain the edges in contact th ughout their entire extent, we provide reinforcing stays 5 of thin resilient material, such as thin strips ofsteel, which are embedded in the edges, and in a shoe 'lower pair of fasteners andthe bottom of the division slit, and two between the two pairs of fasteners. f v

These sta s are of suflicient flexibility vto readily con orm to the shape of the limb of the wearer, but effectually prevent any tendency of the edges to separate, as any strain in this direction is edgewise of the stays and hence strongly resisted. By reason of the interruption of the stays at the lower pair of fasteners, the edges of the upper can Hex readily at this point, which facilitatesV the engaging of the fasteners. The upper ends of the upper pair of stays, tor a similar reason, terminate just below the upper pair oi asteners.

Preferably we incorporate in each edge of tlrie 'upper division a relativelyY thick and Wide stripof rnbber G, which, while amply flexible, yet stiffens the edges and by reasen of :its resiliency causes the edges to remain :iiov abutting Contact.

A sllo'e as thus constructed c-.in be readily pnt on and removed, can be quickly tased. and unfastened, and when in position on the foot of the wearer will be kept closed with no unsightly asteninw means in view or exposed to catch on the dress.

Having thus described ou invention, what We claim is:

l.. An article of footwear ot' the class deiiaving; a plurality of pairs of sepa- `f metallic.fasteners secured to the inner @ce oi'f the upper somewhat beck from the e and a narrow strip of resilient rubber incorporated in each of said edges.

A front opening article el footwear of die arctic type, havingy a plurality of pairs of in'terengaging 'fasteners secured to the inner face of the upper'suiiifiently back from the edges to cause they inter-eng` ging perdons of the fasteners to lie approxiA '.tely flush with the edges, whereby when cooperating fasteners are engaged tlie es will be held in abetting position and fasteners concealed;

Ari article of footwear of the class described having a plurality of pairs oi cooperating fasteners secured to the inner face ost' the npper'sornewliat back from the ed;1r is. strips of resilient rubber incorporated in seid edges, and stays also incorporated. in said edges, the rubber strips being wider than said stays.

4. An article of footwear of the front opening arctic type, having a pair of interengaging fasteners secured to the edges adjacent the top and a similar pair intermedxete the top and bottom of the opening, said fasteners being secured to the inner face of the upper sufficiently back from the edges to cause the interengaging portions of the fasteners to lie approximately Hush with the edges whereby, when the cooperating fasteners are engaged, the edges will lie in alnittingv position, and the fasteners be conr-ealed, and resilient stays incorporated in said 'edges between said fasteners and loetween the lowerrnost fasteners and the bottoni ol tlie opening.

An article of 'footwear of the arctic type having a rubber lower portion and a flexible cloth upper provided with a front opening, said lipier having a pair of eooperatin;r metallic fasteners of the inook and ere type secured to the upper approximately :it the Vankle line, and another pair adjacent the topl said fasteners inner i'ace of the, upper relatively remote from the edg. s and with the edges et' the upper in .su )stantial alignment with the lree ends of the fasteners.

(l. An article of footwear of the arctic type haring a rul'ilier foot portion and front openir upper, said uppenhaving tivo pairs of re -1 ient .stays incorporated in its edges, one pair of stays extending' 'from the not toni oi said front opening to approximately the ankle line, and the other from said ankle line upward therefrom, cooperating hook and eye members articulated to the inner face of the upper back of the line ot' said stays adjacent the space between the upper and` lower pairs, and haring' their 'iref ends in substantiai alignment with The edges of the upper, and fastening means et tl'ie top ofthe upper.

ln testimonj,Y .whereof We aiiix our signatures,

ALERED A. GLBDEN.

FRANK D. BEAN,

being secured to the 

